THIS DESIGN IS PROPERTY OF GSD SIGNS UNTILL
SIGN IS INSTALLED OR DESIGN HAS BEEN BOUGHT
AND SIGNED OFF BY AN AGENT OF GSD SIGNS!!

THIS IS TYPED AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL MY ART WORK,
LAYOUTS AND DESIGNS

i may not be a great designer, and i'm certainly not a great sign maker (yet) but i do know a bit about design laws. here goes.

(pause while i put on my flame-retardent suit)

i'll start with two examples that point out the problems with owning and stealing things:

1. i type out "EXIT" in 3" Helvetica and give the "sketch" to them to approve. some other shop makes the sign. i'll never be able to prove that this was an original design. any shop could have come up with that. it might be just coincidence that we both chose Helvetica.

2. Man comes in, wants to buy a stereo set. i hand my stereo to him, he looks at it, and says "i want to get my wife's approval". Out he walks, no deposit...i go complain that he "stole" my stereo... he didn't steal it... i GAVE it to him.

So, here are four ways to prevent people from stealing your designs:

1. a signed contract BEFORE you release the sketch. contract says if they don't hire you to do the sign they owe you $___ for the sketch.

2. they give you a "sketch deposit" before you do the sketch.

3. they pay you for just the sketch before you let them leave the office. if they hire you to do the sign as well, the deposit counts towards the entire job.

4. you pay a few tthousand dollars to TRADEMARK (not copyright) the sketch, and the let them take it. if they hire you to do the sign, you sell them the trademark. (no, this isn't a serious option, but it is possible, and it points out the difference between trademark and copyright).

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Try this fairly simple one. It is a guaranteed moneymaker. Train yourself to set your company policies and stick with them.

Educate the customer that the design process is what he is paying for and the finished sign is secondary. You can use an architect or a graphic designer (which is what you are) as an example. If they balk, let them walk.

Then show examples of your work, listen closely to what they say, take notes on a form that reads Request for Design / Proposal, have them sign it and give you a check for an estimated 50% of the finished sign. What I have just described is a free consultation.

Trust me it works. I know that many of the Letterheads you know and we all look up to are already doing it. Also, how often do you question a store’s or service provider’s policies before starting to do business with them?

In order for this never to happen again, you must protect yourself. You must deal with the owner of the perspective business and have them sign a waiver or contract of some kind before handing then anything that can be done somewhere else.
The moment you gave them the design, you gave them the right to do what they please with it. I find that if you are like most real designers you can design a waiver or contract of some kind pertaining strictly to your designs or work which in turn can protect you if problems arise.

Payment for any design that leaves your shop is a must, no matter who you are dealing with. Many jump into designing a layout just beause they want to give the other person the opportunity of seeing their work and BAM, its gone to another shop to get accompolished because the price may be cheaper.
Getting paid for the work you do is as easy as completing the project, protect yourself from A to Z and don't do anything in the way of designing until the money is on the table, so to speak.
Note: No one will steal your design if you are paid for it, payment is what we are all in business for. So whether you accompolish the complete project or just the layout, at least you get paid for it.